I appreciate liberal analysis of the past several years in Washington. Unfortunately, it's both one-sided and short-sighted.
Many of you blame Bush's use of 'division' and 'fear' to get elected and push 'disastrous policies', please keep in mind that, when Bush took office, he was fighting back a recession caused by the previous administration's foolish government backing of loans for internet start-ups. Billions of dollars and millions of people were invested in the 'dot bombs' of the late '90's. Those 'tax cuts' for the wealthy were BADLY misnamed. They were not. They were tax cuts for people willing to invest. That, by the way, was the FIRST round of tax cuts. The SECOND round of tax cuts reduced EVERYONE'S taxes. Both sets of cuts are due to be reversed at the end of this year. Those tax cuts, as well as the first 'rebate' kept this country from falling into a true recession.
Once 9/11/01 occured, America found itself teetering on another recession. Once again, taxes were cut, rebates were issued, incentives were given for Americans to invest in America, and we avoided another full recession. Therefore, it's hardly a fair statement that Bush's financial policies were poor. His policies prevented 2 recessions.
Does that make Bush perfect? Certainly not. Was he flawless? Hardly. Did he make mistakes? Of course he did. Are we paying the price of some of those mistakes today? Yes. Will our grandkids be paying the price for some of those mistakes for decades to come? Regretfully, yes.
"Fiscally-irresponsible tax cuts for the wealthy while the economy is struggling?" Again, they weren't tax cuts for the wealthy, they were tax cuts for everyone. The wealthy got bigger cuts because they PAY MORE. Unfortunately, the current economic recession was caused not by something Bush did, but by something Clinton did. The Community Reinvestment Act of 1993 was a bill President Clinton signed into law during the mid 90's. It forced Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to insure sub-standard, sub-prime, low money/no money down ARM mortgage loans. While concocted by both Republicans and Democrats alike, it's been run exclusively by Democrats. While Bush should take at least part of the blame for not taking a more active role in exposing it, the lion's share of the blame falls squarely on Barney Frank and Maxine Waters, both democrat representatives, for being warned several times to stop it, but choosing not to. The current recession is a result of that bill not being repealed, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac being too exposed and too many families allowed to buy a house who couldn't afford to. They were foreclosed on, the banks went to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, who couldn't insure all the banks in time. Banks failed, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac didn't get their government money quickly enough. Insurance companies who invested in banks and mortgage companies took a major hit... and the rest is (very current) history.
Now, for the true history lesson. This nation flourished the most when companies were de-regulated (meaning the government stayed out of their business unless the businesses did something illegal). The nation, as a whole, was the benefactor of Americans being allowed the opportunity to be as successful as they wanted to be. As corporations became more powerful, our government saw an opportunity to gain some of that power and money as well. The biggest culprit was none other than President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who used a recession similiar to this one to make a major power grab. Unfortunately, that power grab turned a recession into a decade long depression. From the late '20's through today, our government has taken more and more control of the private sector, continued raising taxes, and grown in power.
That leaves us where we are today. We now have the extreme left proclaiming that 'capitalism has failed us' or 'capitalism is evil'. Unforutnately, we haven't had a truely capitalist, free-market society for almost 80 years. You blame Republicans of the recent past for spending money foolishly. You are correct. Those Republicans have since been removed from office. Now, the Democrats are spending money exponentially faster than the past 20 years combined. We are borrowing money from countries we have fundamental differences with. We're recklessly abandoning nuclear weapons at a time when rogue nations like North Korea and Iran (and therefore, by proxy, Syria, Lebanon, and groups like Hizbolah) are desperately trying to acquire them. We've dismissed long-standing allies like the UK, France, Israel, Germany and even Canada in a desperate attempt to gain acceptance from Iran and Venezuela... which has backfired miserably.
You are incorrect in your assessment of what is happening. The Republicans are attempting to put the brakes on all the foolish spending that's going on now. There's no racism here. Please don't follow the pundits (Chris Matthews, Bill Mahar, Jon Stewart, Keith Olberman, etc.) demonization of what is happening. The simple truth is; there are two ways to handle the problems that have befallen America... empower Americans to fix the problems themselves or allow a government takeover. Unfortunately, empowering Americans is problematic to our government because it means relinquishing power.
By the way, the numbers we have all heard quoted for cost savings on the health care plan... are incorrect. The CBO has yet to perform an analysis on the bill that actually passed... with its 3 addendums. Others have done their own analysis... the numbers aren't good. As well they shouldn't be. Consider social security... it's bankrupt. Consider the post office... it's bankrupt. Consider medicare... it's bankrupt. What do they have in common? All 3 are government-run.
Change is good... when it's change for the better. What we have now is change for the worse, which is bad for every skin color in this nation. There IS a way to improve healthcare, energy, and the economy, but it's by empowering Americans, not enslaving them to the government.
Put americans back to work so that they can fix the economy, just like they always have!
Friday, July 2, 2010
Friday, October 9, 2009
My Collection of unread books.
I have this ever annoying habit of buying books I never read. Not just books but also Magazines, Comics, (Graphic Novels); OK I do read the comics. The pictures make it easier to cover more territory quickly(A.D.D).
Needless to say I spend much time and money on good intentions, much like president Obama and his apologizing for being an American. I'm sure the moron means well in some diluted way. BTW, where is my Nobel "I really meant to read that book prize?" I could really use the 1.4 mil...
Anyway I have a big box in the top of my closet full of these graphic novels. Both my Coffee table and end tables have copies of Popular Science and Mechanics strewn across the top.
My little night stand has books piled on it as high as my lamp.
You of course realise this is not all my fault! When I read a book that has between 250 to 350 page it will take me a full day or more to complete it. So I can guess you have already figured out I am not a very fast reader. But! I am of course a product of our glorious public school system. Allowing me to remind you, "Its not my fault."
Well yes, I could probably ration out my reading to say an hour or 2 a night but as my wife will certainly attest to. The light will go out in 15 minutes or less. Not the light bulb, although it will certainly follow suit. I am speaking of my internal light that keeps me concious and aware of what goes on around me. My wife will then immeditely reach over me to turn off the light, so she can go to sleep, next to this snoring, slow reading, husband(me).
Did I mention that I recently transformed to one of those old people who need reading glasses? To make matters worse for "ME". I am also one of those amazing gifted people who has always had 20/10 vison. I would go on long road trips stunning my wife and child with my ability to read road signs way before they could see them. Falling from the ranks of Super hero really, really sucks.....
This vision problem seems to be increasing more rapidly. Gone are the days of my young eyes staying up all night chatting, hacking, and playing video games. I have to save my workable hours for things that actually make me money! Not near as much play time as I once had.
I started out with a pair of glasses I bought at walmart they were 1.0 I'm guess this means it makes all that I look at 100% bigger. Or should I say twice the size? Hmm. Any way I scratched those pretty quickly and moved on to 1.5 so is that 150% more. or 2.5 times? I need to find out, not very clear on this and really should find out.
I'll be back because what appears to probably be common knowledge to many of you seems to allude me and needs to be looked into...... I'll be back........
Needless to say I spend much time and money on good intentions, much like president Obama and his apologizing for being an American. I'm sure the moron means well in some diluted way. BTW, where is my Nobel "I really meant to read that book prize?" I could really use the 1.4 mil...
Anyway I have a big box in the top of my closet full of these graphic novels. Both my Coffee table and end tables have copies of Popular Science and Mechanics strewn across the top.
My little night stand has books piled on it as high as my lamp.
You of course realise this is not all my fault! When I read a book that has between 250 to 350 page it will take me a full day or more to complete it. So I can guess you have already figured out I am not a very fast reader. But! I am of course a product of our glorious public school system. Allowing me to remind you, "Its not my fault."
Well yes, I could probably ration out my reading to say an hour or 2 a night but as my wife will certainly attest to. The light will go out in 15 minutes or less. Not the light bulb, although it will certainly follow suit. I am speaking of my internal light that keeps me concious and aware of what goes on around me. My wife will then immeditely reach over me to turn off the light, so she can go to sleep, next to this snoring, slow reading, husband(me).
Did I mention that I recently transformed to one of those old people who need reading glasses? To make matters worse for "ME". I am also one of those amazing gifted people who has always had 20/10 vison. I would go on long road trips stunning my wife and child with my ability to read road signs way before they could see them. Falling from the ranks of Super hero really, really sucks.....
This vision problem seems to be increasing more rapidly. Gone are the days of my young eyes staying up all night chatting, hacking, and playing video games. I have to save my workable hours for things that actually make me money! Not near as much play time as I once had.
I started out with a pair of glasses I bought at walmart they were 1.0 I'm guess this means it makes all that I look at 100% bigger. Or should I say twice the size? Hmm. Any way I scratched those pretty quickly and moved on to 1.5 so is that 150% more. or 2.5 times? I need to find out, not very clear on this and really should find out.
I'll be back because what appears to probably be common knowledge to many of you seems to allude me and needs to be looked into...... I'll be back........
Saturday, October 3, 2009
I'm afraid for the worst.
The more I read the more I realize with an incredible rapidity, that America's status as the world's pre-eminent superpower is now passing away. This is a function both of the nearly systematic abandonment of U.S. interests and allies overseas, with metastasizing debt and bureaucracy on the home front.And while I think the U.S. has the structural fortitude to survive the Obama presidency, it will be a much-diminished country that emerges from the "new physics" of hope and change. My heart is saddend by the weakening of my truley noble nation. We were beaten down by the evil of entitlements just like Rome.
When are we going to get rid of this guy?
An Olympics We Can Believe In (MUST READ) By: Larry Elders
Close your eyes, and pretend it's still the George W. Bush administration.
In Afghanistan, more American service members died in August than in any month since the war began. His top military commander says that without more troops, we run the risk of losing the war. Iran admits operating a second previously undisclosed nuclear facility. Unemployment stands at 9.7 percent, with consumer confidence lower last month after a brief uptick. An important domestic initiative -- one he campaigned on -- faces a likely make-or-break month in Congress.
What does the President do? He flies to Copenhagen to personally lobby the International Olympic Committee to bring the Olympics to Crawford, Texas.
During Hurricane Katrina, critics accused President Bush of showing insufficient concern. CNN's Bush-hater-in-chief, Jack Cafferty, lit into him. Insensitivity! Lack of empathy! Poor sense of priorities! When the Iraq War started going badly, critics pounced on Bush for allegedly "failing to listen to his generals" about the troop strength necessary to secure that country.
Fast-forward. Americans elected Barack Obama, an "elegant and eloquent" liberal president. And my, how things change.
Iran's second -- now acknowledged -- nuclear facility appears to have but one purpose: to make a bomb. For good measure, over the weekend, Iran test-fired medium-range missiles with the distance to reach Israel.
Obama, during the campaign, called a nuclear-armed Iran "unacceptable." The President now demands that Iran come clean, or else. Or else ... what? Face "stiff sanctions." Never mind that our country's sanctions against Iran have been in place for 30 years. Ratcheting them up to include, say, energy embargoes requires the approval of U.N. Security Council members China and Russia. Who do you think assists Iran in the construction of its nuclear program? China and Russia.
The President, in August, called Afghanistan a "war of necessity." Obama's chosen top commander, Gen. Stanley McChrystal, wrote -- in a report requested by the White House -- that the conflict "will likely result in failure" without an increase in troop strength within the year. Obama sat on the report for a month, after which it was leaked to The Washington Post. He told the general to scrub the additional troop request because he now wants to reassess the entire mission.
After we helped expel the former Soviet Union from Afghanistan, we left. Afghanistan became a haven for terrorists, who were protected, sponsored and encouraged by its government. From there, al-Qaida conceived and directed 9/11, an attack against America that resulted in the loss of 3,000 lives. We attacked Afghanistan and toppled its Taliban government. After that country approved a constitution and established a government, we promised to remain until it could defend itself and serve as an ally in the war on terror.
A failure in Afghanistan would allow a safe haven for more attacks and would threaten to destabilize next-door Pakistan, a country that possesses nuclear weapons.
Our enemy seeks to impose theocratic governments in the Middle East and the Arab world. Then it seeks to subjugate (SET ITAL) all (END ITAL) non-Muslim peoples. In July 2007, Ayman al-Zawahiri, al-Qaida's No. 2, outlined the terror group's objectives. There is a near-term plan to globally target "Crusader" (U.S., NATO, etc.) and Jewish interests. The long-term plan has two parts: overthrowing "corrupt" non-Islamic governments and "hurrying to the fields of jihad like Afghanistan, Iraq and Somalia, for jihad preparation and training. Thus, it is a must to hurry to the fields of jihad for two reasons: The first is to defeat the enemies of (Islam) and repel the Zionist Crusade, and the second is for jihadi preparation and training to prepare for the next stage of the jihad." He failed to define "the next stage."
Obama, despite previous statements to the contrary, apparently considers a nuclear-armed Iran preferable to U.S. military action. And now that the majority of Democrats want out of Afghanistan, the "war of necessity" no longer seems necessary.
The picture now comes into sharp focus. Americans voted for president a man who thinks that government creates wealth; that "greed" caused the current economic crisis; that taxpayers should provide health insurance for those who don't have it; that a government-induced housing and financial crisis can only be addressed by more government; that government can more efficiently and profitably run businesses than can the private sector; that "global warming" requires the imposition of job-killing and price-hiking action against emitters; and that government should "spread the wealth" by taking from those who have "too much" and giving to those who have "too little."
National security is, as always, job one. We are at war against Islamofascists. To accomplish their ends, they seek chemical, biological and nuclear weapons. This is a conflict that, not unlike the Cold War, will likely take decades.
For now, though, President Obama intends to fly to Copenhagen to personally lobby to bring the 2016 Olympics to Chicago. Iran and Afghanistan can wait.
BTW RIO GOT THE OLYMPICS IN 2016
Close your eyes, and pretend it's still the George W. Bush administration.
In Afghanistan, more American service members died in August than in any month since the war began. His top military commander says that without more troops, we run the risk of losing the war. Iran admits operating a second previously undisclosed nuclear facility. Unemployment stands at 9.7 percent, with consumer confidence lower last month after a brief uptick. An important domestic initiative -- one he campaigned on -- faces a likely make-or-break month in Congress.
What does the President do? He flies to Copenhagen to personally lobby the International Olympic Committee to bring the Olympics to Crawford, Texas.
During Hurricane Katrina, critics accused President Bush of showing insufficient concern. CNN's Bush-hater-in-chief, Jack Cafferty, lit into him. Insensitivity! Lack of empathy! Poor sense of priorities! When the Iraq War started going badly, critics pounced on Bush for allegedly "failing to listen to his generals" about the troop strength necessary to secure that country.
Fast-forward. Americans elected Barack Obama, an "elegant and eloquent" liberal president. And my, how things change.
Iran's second -- now acknowledged -- nuclear facility appears to have but one purpose: to make a bomb. For good measure, over the weekend, Iran test-fired medium-range missiles with the distance to reach Israel.
Obama, during the campaign, called a nuclear-armed Iran "unacceptable." The President now demands that Iran come clean, or else. Or else ... what? Face "stiff sanctions." Never mind that our country's sanctions against Iran have been in place for 30 years. Ratcheting them up to include, say, energy embargoes requires the approval of U.N. Security Council members China and Russia. Who do you think assists Iran in the construction of its nuclear program? China and Russia.
The President, in August, called Afghanistan a "war of necessity." Obama's chosen top commander, Gen. Stanley McChrystal, wrote -- in a report requested by the White House -- that the conflict "will likely result in failure" without an increase in troop strength within the year. Obama sat on the report for a month, after which it was leaked to The Washington Post. He told the general to scrub the additional troop request because he now wants to reassess the entire mission.
After we helped expel the former Soviet Union from Afghanistan, we left. Afghanistan became a haven for terrorists, who were protected, sponsored and encouraged by its government. From there, al-Qaida conceived and directed 9/11, an attack against America that resulted in the loss of 3,000 lives. We attacked Afghanistan and toppled its Taliban government. After that country approved a constitution and established a government, we promised to remain until it could defend itself and serve as an ally in the war on terror.
A failure in Afghanistan would allow a safe haven for more attacks and would threaten to destabilize next-door Pakistan, a country that possesses nuclear weapons.
Our enemy seeks to impose theocratic governments in the Middle East and the Arab world. Then it seeks to subjugate (SET ITAL) all (END ITAL) non-Muslim peoples. In July 2007, Ayman al-Zawahiri, al-Qaida's No. 2, outlined the terror group's objectives. There is a near-term plan to globally target "Crusader" (U.S., NATO, etc.) and Jewish interests. The long-term plan has two parts: overthrowing "corrupt" non-Islamic governments and "hurrying to the fields of jihad like Afghanistan, Iraq and Somalia, for jihad preparation and training. Thus, it is a must to hurry to the fields of jihad for two reasons: The first is to defeat the enemies of (Islam) and repel the Zionist Crusade, and the second is for jihadi preparation and training to prepare for the next stage of the jihad." He failed to define "the next stage."
Obama, despite previous statements to the contrary, apparently considers a nuclear-armed Iran preferable to U.S. military action. And now that the majority of Democrats want out of Afghanistan, the "war of necessity" no longer seems necessary.
The picture now comes into sharp focus. Americans voted for president a man who thinks that government creates wealth; that "greed" caused the current economic crisis; that taxpayers should provide health insurance for those who don't have it; that a government-induced housing and financial crisis can only be addressed by more government; that government can more efficiently and profitably run businesses than can the private sector; that "global warming" requires the imposition of job-killing and price-hiking action against emitters; and that government should "spread the wealth" by taking from those who have "too much" and giving to those who have "too little."
National security is, as always, job one. We are at war against Islamofascists. To accomplish their ends, they seek chemical, biological and nuclear weapons. This is a conflict that, not unlike the Cold War, will likely take decades.
For now, though, President Obama intends to fly to Copenhagen to personally lobby to bring the 2016 Olympics to Chicago. Iran and Afghanistan can wait.
BTW RIO GOT THE OLYMPICS IN 2016
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
THE ANT AND THE GRASSHOPPER - Two Different Versions! ........
OLD VERSION: The ant works hard in the withering heat all summer long, building his house and laying up supplies for the winter. The grasshopper thinks the ant is a fool and laughs and dances and plays the summer away. Come winter, the ant is warm and well fed. The grasshopper has no food or shelter, so he dies out in the cold.
MORAL OF THE STORY: Be responsible for yourself
NEW VERS
MODERN VERSION: The ant works hard in the withering heat all summer long, building his house and laying up supplies for the winter. The grasshopper thinks the ant is a fool and laughs and dances and plays the summer away. Come winter, the shivering grasshopper calls a press conference and demands to know why the ant should be allowed to be warm and well fed while others are cold and starving. CBS, NBC , PBS, CNN, and ABC show up to provide pictures of the shivering grasshopper next to a video of the ant in his comfortable home with a table filled with food. America is stunned by the sharp contrast. How can this be, that in a country of such wealth, this poor grasshopper is allowed to suffer so? Kermit the Frog appears on Oprah with the grasshopper and everybody cries when they sing, 'It's Not Easy Being Green.' Acorn stages a demonstration in front of the ant 's house where the news stations film the group singing, 'We shall overcome.' Rev. Jeremiah Wright then has the group kneel down to pray to God for the grasshopper's sake. Nancy Pelosi & Harry Reid exclaim in an interview with Larry King that the ant has gotten rich off the back of the grasshopper, and both call for an immediate tax hike on the ant to make him pay his fair share. Finally, the EEOC drafts the Economic Equity & Anti-Grasshopper Act retroactive to the beginning of the summer. The ant is fined for failing to hire a proportionate number of green bugs and, having nothing left to pay his retroactive taxes, his home is confiscated by the Government Green Czar. The story ends as we see the grasshopper finishing up the last bits of the ants food while the government house he is in, which just happens to be the ant's old house, crumbles around him because he doesn't maintain it. The ant has disappeared in the snow. The grasshopper is found dead in a drug related incident and the house, now abandoned, is taken over by a gang of spiders who terrorize0Athe once peaceful neighborhood.
MORAL OF THE STORY: Be careful how you vote in 2010.
MORAL OF THE STORY: Be responsible for yourself
NEW VERS
MODERN VERSION: The ant works hard in the withering heat all summer long, building his house and laying up supplies for the winter. The grasshopper thinks the ant is a fool and laughs and dances and plays the summer away. Come winter, the shivering grasshopper calls a press conference and demands to know why the ant should be allowed to be warm and well fed while others are cold and starving. CBS, NBC , PBS, CNN, and ABC show up to provide pictures of the shivering grasshopper next to a video of the ant in his comfortable home with a table filled with food. America is stunned by the sharp contrast. How can this be, that in a country of such wealth, this poor grasshopper is allowed to suffer so? Kermit the Frog appears on Oprah with the grasshopper and everybody cries when they sing, 'It's Not Easy Being Green.' Acorn stages a demonstration in front of the ant 's house where the news stations film the group singing, 'We shall overcome.' Rev. Jeremiah Wright then has the group kneel down to pray to God for the grasshopper's sake. Nancy Pelosi & Harry Reid exclaim in an interview with Larry King that the ant has gotten rich off the back of the grasshopper, and both call for an immediate tax hike on the ant to make him pay his fair share. Finally, the EEOC drafts the Economic Equity & Anti-Grasshopper Act retroactive to the beginning of the summer. The ant is fined for failing to hire a proportionate number of green bugs and, having nothing left to pay his retroactive taxes, his home is confiscated by the Government Green Czar. The story ends as we see the grasshopper finishing up the last bits of the ants food while the government house he is in, which just happens to be the ant's old house, crumbles around him because he doesn't maintain it. The ant has disappeared in the snow. The grasshopper is found dead in a drug related incident and the house, now abandoned, is taken over by a gang of spiders who terrorize0Athe once peaceful neighborhood.
MORAL OF THE STORY: Be careful how you vote in 2010.
Monday, September 21, 2009
5th Day still no smoking for me
End of fifth day without smoking. I'm starting to feel a little better. Brain starting to come out of clouds. Body not feeling so sick. Upset stomach subsiding. Very , Very Tired. Finally got about 4 hours sleep last night. Hopefully I will do better tonight. Going in to office tommorow. Hoping brain cloud is mostly gone by then. Started eatting again last night. Had some chinese today. Takes 3 weeks to get rid of all nicotine but hardest part is supposed to be behind by tommorow. Did some push ups and some pull ups today. Going to do more tommorow. Will get up early and jump rope in yard before morning shower tommorow.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
What are withdrawls like from Nicotine?
Do you ever have days were no matter how hard you try. You just can't smile? Now this may not be big deal to many people but when I an in a good place in my life. I smile all day long. I like it.....
Its not a pain per say. Its your brain yearning. It just really wants that poison. The longer it is gone the more precious it becomes. I have always found the last day ofthe first week to be the day of reckoning. This is were I seemed to get most tempted and mentally exhausted to go ahead and just give it what it wants. You fight in your head. If only I can have one drag... I will be all better. We can go do other stuff. Lets go to the movies now. But in about an hour after you put it out. It want another dose of poison. I'm 45... How many more does can my body take before I get sick? If I quit now will I recover some of my recently lost physical attributes? Maybe? But I certainly won't lose anymore. Smoking gives me nothing. I only get something by losing the poison. Just one and the desire returns. The cycle starts all over.
I'm going to go take a shower...................................................................
Its not a pain per say. Its your brain yearning. It just really wants that poison. The longer it is gone the more precious it becomes. I have always found the last day ofthe first week to be the day of reckoning. This is were I seemed to get most tempted and mentally exhausted to go ahead and just give it what it wants. You fight in your head. If only I can have one drag... I will be all better. We can go do other stuff. Lets go to the movies now. But in about an hour after you put it out. It want another dose of poison. I'm 45... How many more does can my body take before I get sick? If I quit now will I recover some of my recently lost physical attributes? Maybe? But I certainly won't lose anymore. Smoking gives me nothing. I only get something by losing the poison. Just one and the desire returns. The cycle starts all over.
I'm going to go take a shower...................................................................
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